GAME THREAD: NHL: ST LOUIS (14-8) at MINNESOTA (13-11)

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL ST LOUIS 2
MINNESOTA 2 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL ST LOUIS 2
MINNESOTA 2 1:30 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NHL ST LOUIS 2
MINNESOTA 2 7:26 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL ST LOUIS 2
MINNESOTA 2 4:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 3RD GOING INTO OT

1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ST LOUIS 0 2 0 2
MINNESOTA 1 1 0 2 GOING INTO OT

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 6 (BRIAN ROLSTON, PAVOL DEMITRA)
10:05
2ND PRD: MIN - BRIAN ROLSTON 8 (ERIC BELANGER, MARTIN SKOULA) 0:09
STL - LEE STEMPNIAK 2 (BRYCE SALVADOR, ERIC BREWER) 5:22
STL - BRAD BOYES 15 (PAUL KARIYA, ERIK JOHNSON) 11:18
3RD PRD: NONE

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
STL 6 6 9 21
MIN 9 8 8 25

GOALIES: STL - MANNY LEGACE
MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
St Louis 0 2 0 --2
Minnesota 1 1 0 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Brent Burns 6 (power play)
(Brian Rolston, Pavol Demitra), 10:05. Penalties: P Bouchard, Min
(delay of game), 4:19; M Legace, Stl (delay of game served by B
Boyes), 8:42; R Johnson, Stl (interference), 9:35; T Fedoruk, Min
(holding), 16:58.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 8 (Eric Belanger,
Martin Skoula), 0:09. 3, St Louis, Lee Stempniak 2 (Bryce Salvador,
Eric Brewer), 5:22. 4, St Louis, Brad Boyes 15 (Paul Kariya, Erik
Johnson), 11:18. Penalties: M Skoula, Min (hooking), 12:53.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: E Johnson, Stl (hooking), 2:36; T Fedoruk,
Min (holding), 5:56; E Brewer, Stl (tripping), 15:05.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
St Louis 6 6 9 --21
Minnesota 9 8 8 --25
---------------------------------------

Goalies : St Louis, Manny Legace (25 shots, 23 saves). Minnesota,
Niklas Backstrom (21 shots, 19 saves). Referees: Dennis Larue, Mike
Hasenfratz. Linesmen: Brad Lazarowich, Pierre Racicot.</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL ST LOUIS 2
MINNESOTA 3
OT: MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 10 (UNASSISTED) 2:21</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL IN OT 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ST LOUIS 0 2 0 0 2
MINNESOTA 1 1 0 1 3 FINAL IN OT

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 6 (BRIAN ROLSTON, PAVOL DEMITRA)
10:05
2ND PRD: MIN - BRIAN ROLSTON 8 (ERIC BELANGER, MARTIN SKOULA) 0:09
STL - LEE STEMPNIAK 2 (BRYCE SALVADOR, ERIC BREWER) 5:22
STL - BRAD BOYES 15 (PAUL KARIYA, ERIK JOHNSON) 11:18
3RD PRD: NONE
OT: MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 10 (UNASSISTED) 2:21

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: STL - 0 OF 4, MIN - 1 OF 4.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
STL 6 6 9 3 24
MIN 9 8 8 1 26

GOALIES: STL - MANNY LEGACE
MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM

OFFICIALS: REF - DENNIS LARUE, MIKE HASENFRATZ
LIN - BRAD LAZAROWICH, PIERRE RACICOT

ATT: 18,568</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------------
St Louis 0 2 0 0 --2
Minnesota 1 1 0 1 --3
------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Brent Burns 6 (Brian Rolston,
Pavol Demitra),10:05. Penalties: P Bouchard, Min (delay of game),
4:19; M Legace, Stl (delay of game served by B Boyes), 8:42; R
Johnson, Stl (interference), 9:35; T Fedoruk, Min (holding), 16:58.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 8 (Eric Belanger,
Martin Skoula),0:09. 3, St Louis, Lee Stempniak 2 (Bryce Salvador,
Eric Brewer),5:22. 4, St Louis, Brad Boyes 15 (Paul Kariya, Erik
Johnson),11:18. Penalties: M Skoula, Min (hooking), 12:53.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: E Johnson, Stl (hooking), 2:36; T Fedoruk,
Min (holding), 5:56; E Brewer, Stl (tripping), 15:05.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 5, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 10 (Unassisted),
2:21.

Shots on goal:
--------------------------------------------
St Louis 6 6 9 3 --24
Minnesota 9 8 8 1 --26
--------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: St Louis - 0 of 4, Minnesota - 1 of 4. Goalies
: St Louis, Manny Legace (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 11-7-0).
Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (24 shots, 22 saves; record: 11-4-1). A:
18,568. Referees: Dennis Larue, Mike Hasenfratz. Linesmen: Brad
Lazarowich, Pierre Racicot.</div>

 

By Brian Hall
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- Marian Gaborik scored 2:21 intoovertime to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 triumph over theSt. Louis Blues on Friday.


Brian Rolston added a goal and an assist and Niklas Backstrommade 22 saves for his 11th victory of the season for the Wild,who extended their winning streak to three games.


The loss was just the second for St. Louis in its past ninegames.


Gaborik, who has netted five goals in his last five games,picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated straighttoward goaltender Manny Legace. The 25-year-old Slovakianunleashed a wrist shot that beat Legace to the stick side forthe game-winning tally.


After the Wild opened the season with a 7-0-1 mark, injuries andsluggish play saw their seven-point lead in the NorthwestDivision disappear and dropped them to third place. But withGaborik and Pavol Demitra returning to good health, they havewon four of six and appear to be back on track.


Defenseman Brent Burns opened the scoring at 10:05 of the firstperiod. With Minnesota on a two-man advantage, Brian Rolstoncontrolled a pass from Demitra with his skate, collected thepuck and sent it across the ice to Burns, who fired a wristerpast Legace.


Rolston doubled the lead just nine seconds into the secondperiod.


Minnesota won the opening faceoff and Rolston drilled a slapshot from the left faceoff circle past Legace for his eighthgoal of the season, snapping a 10-game drought - his longest asa member of the Wild.


Lee Stempniak got the Blues on the board when he scored hissecond goal of the season at 5:22 of the second. The right wingskated into the offensive zone, went between two defenders andfired the puck high past Backstrom to cut the deficit to 2-1.

St. Louis tied the game with 8:42 left in the session after anifty give-and-go. Brad Boyes carried the puck over the blueline and dropped it between his legs to Paul Kariya, who gave itback to the driving Boyes, who beat Backstrom for histeam-leading 15th goal of the season.


The Blues had a chance to pull ahead with five minutes left inthe third. With the team shorthanded, Jamal Mayers pounced on aturnover and went in alone on Backstrom but was denied as thenetminder got his left pad down to block the low shot.

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------------
St Louis 0 2 0 0 --2
Minnesota 1 1 0 1 --3
------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Brent Burns 6 (Brian Rolston,
Pavol Demitra),10:05. Penalties: P Bouchard, Min (delay of game),
4:19; M Legace, Stl (delay of game served by B Boyes), 8:42; R
Johnson, Stl (interference), 9:35; T Fedoruk, Min (holding), 16:58.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 8 (Eric Belanger,
Martin Skoula),0:09. 3, St Louis, Lee Stempniak 2 (Bryce Salvador,
Eric Brewer),5:22. 4, St Louis, Brad Boyes 15 (Paul Kariya, Erik
Johnson),11:18. Penalties: M Skoula, Min (hooking), 12:53.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: E Johnson, Stl (hooking), 2:30; T Fedoruk,
Min (holding), 5:56; E Brewer, Stl (tripping), 15:05.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 5, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 10 (Unassisted),
2:21.

Shots on goal:
--------------------------------------------
St Louis 6 6 9 3 --24
Minnesota 9 8 8 1 --26
--------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: St Louis - 0 of 4, Minnesota - 1 of 4. Goalies
: St Louis, Manny Legace (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 11-7-0).
Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (24 shots, 22 saves; record: 11-4-1). A:
18,568. Referees: Dennis Larue, Mike Hasenfratz. Linesmen: Brad
Lazarowich, Pierre Racicot.</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS 0 2 0 0 --2
MINNESOTA 1 1 0 1 --3
-----------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Brent Burns 6 (Brian Rolston,
Pavol Demitra),10:05. Penalties: P Bouchard, Min (delay of game),
4:19; M Legace, Stl (delay of game served by B Boyes), 8:42; R
Johnson, Stl (interference), 9:35; T Fedoruk, Min (holding), 16:58.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 8 (Eric Belanger,
Martin Skoula),0:09. 3, St Louis, Lee Stempniak 2 (Bryce Salvador,
Eric Brewer),5:22. 4, St Louis, Brad Boyes 15 (Paul Kariya, Erik
Johnson),11:18. Penalties: M Skoula, Min (hooking), 12:53.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: E Johnson, Stl (hooking), 2:30; T Fedoruk,
Min (holding), 5:56; E Brewer, Stl (tripping), 15:05.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 5, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 10 (Unassisted),
2:21.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS 6 6 9 3 --24
MINNESOTA 9 8 8 1 --26
---------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: STL - 0 of 4, MIN - 1 of 4. Goalies : St
Louis, Manny Legace (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 11-7-0). Minnesota,
Niklas Backstrom (24 shots, 22 saves; record: 11-4-1). A: 18,568.
Referees: Dennis Larue, Mike Hasenfratz. Linesmen: Brad Lazarowich,
Pierre Racicot.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

ST LOUIS MINNESOTA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
L Stempniak 1 0 even 1 M Gaborik 1 0 even 4
D Hinote 0 0 even 1 B Rolston 1 1 +1 7
R Johnson 0 0 even 0 D Moore 0 0 -1 1
J McClement 0 0 +1 0 S Veilleux 0 0 -1 1
D King 0 0 even 0 E Belanger 0 1 +1 3
J Mayers 0 0 +1 2 K Carney 0 0 -1 0
B Boyes 1 0 +1 6 P Demitra 0 1 even 0
B Salvador 0 1 +1 0 M Skoula 0 1 +1 1
D Weight 0 0 +1 4 A Voros 0 0 even 1
E Brewer 0 1 +1 1 K Johnsson 0 0 even 0
M Johnson 0 0 -1 1 N Schultz 0 0 even 0
D Backes 0 0 -1 0 S Hill 0 0 +1 0
B Jackman 0 0 -1 1 J Sheppard 0 0 even 1
C Backman 0 0 -1 1 B Burns 1 0 -1 2
E Johnson 0 1 even 0 M Foy 0 0 even 2
K Tkachuk 0 0 -2 1 T Fedoruk 0 0 -1 0
J McKee 0 0 even 0 B Radivojevic 0 0 -1 2
P Kariya 0 1 +1 5 P Bouchard 0 0 +1 1
M Walker HEALTHY M Parrish HIP INJURY
S Wagner HEALTHY D Boogaard BACK INJURY
D Perron HEALTHY K Foster CHEEK</div>

 

NHL: ST LOUIS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
ST LOUIS 2
MINNESOTA 3</div>

 

By Brian Hall
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ST. PAUL , Minnesota (Ticker) -- Marian Gaborik scored 2:21 intoovertime to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 triumph over theSt. Louis Blues on Friday.


Brian Rolston added a goal and an assist and Niklas Backstrommade 22 saves for his 11th victory of the season for the Wild,who extended their winning streak to three games.


The loss was just the second for St. Louis in its past ninecontests.


Gaborik, who has netted five goals in his last five games,picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated straighttoward goaltender Manny Legace. The 25-year-old Slovakianunleashed a wrist shot that beat Legace to the stick side forthe game-winning tally.


"It is coming, so hopefully I can keep it going as long as Ican," Gaborik said. "Now we are playing at home, and it isimportant to get these wins. Of course, (Pavol Demitra) isback, always helps the team. Hopefully, we can get going and bebetter than we were tonight."


"It's an irresponsible play by me," said St. Louis' LeeStempniak, whose turnover led to Gaborik's game-winner. "Iheard (Keith Tkachuk) behind me call for it. I just didn't takea look. I just assumed he was on the outside and then going tocut across. And against those guys, you can't leave a droppass when you're not looking."


After the Wild opened the season with a 7-0-1 mark, injuries andsluggish play saw their seven-point lead in the NorthwestDivision disappear and dropped them to third place. But withGaborik and Demitra returning to good health, they have won fourof six and appear to be back on track.


The win pulls Minnesota even with idle Vancouver for first inthe division with 30 points.


"It is nice to have (Gaborik and Demitra) back in the lineup,"Backstrom said. "But the biggest thing for us now, we know howwe need to play to win games. Doesn't matter who we have in thelineup, we know how we should play and how we can play. Thatis a big thing for us."


Defenseman Brent Burns opened the scoring at 10:05 of the firstperiod. With Minnesota on a two-man advantage, Rolstoncontrolled a pass from Demitra with his skate, collected thepuck and sent it across the ice to Burns, who fired a wristerpast Legace.


Rolston doubled the lead just nine seconds into the secondperiod.


Minnesota won the opening faceoff and Rolston drilled a slapshot from the left faceoff circle past Legace for his eighthgoal of the season, snapping a 10-game drought - his longest asa member of the Wild.


"It was nice to get that goal," Rolston said. "Obviously, Ihaven't scored in a few games, more than a few - understatement.It is just one of those things. We think they are going tocome in bunches now. It is just one of those things, you justhave to try and not get rattled by it.


"It is one of the biggest things in sports, to stay confidentwhile those things are going on."


Stempniak got the Blues on the board when he scored his secondgoal of the season at 5:22 of the second. The right wing skatedinto the offensive zone, went between two defenders and firedthe puck high past Backstrom to cut the deficit to 2-1.

St. Louis tied the game with 8:42 left in the session after anifty give-and-go. Brad Boyes carried the puck over the blueline and dropped it between his legs to Paul Kariya, who gave itback to the driving Boyes, who beat Backstrom for histeam-leading 15th goal of the season.


"I liked our puck possession," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "Ithought we had the puck an awful lot. When we have the puck,that means their good players don't have it, guys like Demitra,Gaborik and (Eric) Belanger. I thought we played a good game. Ithought we gave them all they could handle."


The Blues had a chance to pull ahead with five minutes left inthe third. With the team shorthanded, Jamal Mayers pounced on aturnover and went in alone on Backstrom but was denied as thenetminder got his left pad down to block the low shot.

Legace finished with 23 saves for St. Louis.